Around Here Right Now

Right now, I’m loving…

Her shirts tucked in (always!!!!)

shirtAt first, I tried to talk her out of it, but she was so insistent, I gave up, and now it’s just the way it’s done!:)

Fresh strawberries with Greek yogurt

strawberries

Reading fiction again!

I’ve stayed away from it for years, because it usually results in me staying up far too late at night to finish a book, or getting grumpy at my family because I don’t want to talk to people – I just want to read my book!!!

But after my entertainment fast ended, I watched TV every night for a week, and Ben said, “Can we please do something other than watch TV? Let’s sit on the couch and read!” I have a hard time spending an entire evening reading nonfiction – I like doing that in one-chapter-at-a-time chunks. So for the love of my husband, I went and got some fiction to read. It’s a lesson in self-control and getting to bed at a decent hour, but it is very nice to sit with Ben on the couch, reading our books.:)

books

Individual snack-size hummus!

hummusSomeone out there completely understands my snacking needs! We’ve bought many, many tubs of hummus that don’t get finished before the expiry date, and have to get chucked. But these are perfect.

hummusOrganizing my new homeschool cupboard:

cupboardWe’ve tried to jam all of our supplies into one little kitchen cupboard for much too long. We could never find what we were looking for. Now everything has a place, and we don’t have to use the “cram-it-all-in-and-slam-the-door-shut-really-quickly-before-it-all-falls-out” method.:)

markers

These articles on happiness, and why making our children happy should not be our goal:

Happiness is Not a Goal:

“Happiness is not a goal. Happiness is a natural response to a well-ordered life.

It’s better to ask the question, when in your life have you felt most happy?

For me, it was often when I felt I was being used in some good and powerful way, beyond myself – which was always connected to feeling like I was in the service of love.”

Happiness is not a goal. Happiness is the natural response to a well-ordered life.

It’s better to ask the question, when in your life have you felt most happy?

For me it was often when I felt I was being used in some good and powerful way, beyond myself- which always was connected to feeling like I was in service of love.

– See more at: http://www.wellgroundedsite.com/2014/04/happiness-not-a-goal/#sthash.e0YQdGfI.dpuf

Happiness is not a goal. Happiness is the natural response to a well-ordered life.

It’s better to ask the question, when in your life have you felt most happy?

For me it was often when I felt I was being used in some good and powerful way, beyond myself- which always was connected to feeling like I was in service of love.

– See more at: http://www.wellgroundedsite.com/2014/04/happiness-not-a-goal/#sthash.e0YQdGfI.dpuf

I’m Done Making My Kid’s Childhood Magical:

“Parents do not make childhood magical. Abuse and gross neglect can mar it, of course, but for the average child, the magic is something inherent to the age. Seeing the world through innocent eyes is magical. Experiencing winter and playing in the snow as a 5-year-old is magical. Getting lost in your toys on the floor of your family room is magical. Collecting rocks and keeping them in your pockets is magical. Walking with a branch is magical….

A childhood without Pinterest crafts can be magical. A childhood without a single vacation can be magical. The magic we speak of and so desperately want our children to taste isn’t of our creation, and therefore is not ours to dole out as we please. It is discovered in quiet moments by a brook or under the slide at the park, and in the innocent laughter of a life just beginning.”

I wish you many simple, enjoyable moments in your day!

35 Days of Favorites: Snacks!

This post is part of a series called “35 Days of Favorites”, in honor of my 35th birthday. You can read more about the details here

I love snacking.

My girls love snacking.

I am always looking for new treats to try, and we came across some awesome snacks this past winter….all in the form of balls:

Raw Cookie Dough Bites

Raw Coconut Macaroons (which I make into balls)

Chocolate Coconut Cookies

Chocolate Coconut Cookies

All of these snacks are gluten-free and sugar-free.

They are super fast and easy to make, and I love it when the girls pull up stools and help me in the kitchen.

helping

These treats are so delicious, you should try them all!

What’s your favorite snack?

Weekend Favorites

We were blessed with a very relaxing version of the stomach flu  this weekend.

Anika was not very sick, but just sick enough on Sunday to keep us home for the day, which turned out to be very nice.

There were snacks on the deck, reading Anne of Green Gables, watching Brady Bunch,  and listening to the thunder, the ice cream truck, and the birds, while the breeze blew.

We are now all rested up and refreshed, ready for the week to come! Hope your weekend left you feeling the same!

Anniversary

Today it is 10 years since I married the most wonderful person I know! They have been 10 very good years.

But it’s kind of funny – the day feels slightly anti-climatic.  It seems like it should feel special and different, but it feels…like a normal day! But I’ve been realizing lately that normal is special and wonderful, and if I had to plan the best day ever, we’d probably end up doing what we normally do on quiet evenings at home.

We would put our sweet girls to bed at 8:00 pm, we’d make snacks together, and then we would sit on the couch and talk for hours, or watch an episode of Heartland, or practice the new ballroom dance moves we’ve been learning, and it would be perfect!

We are trying to plan some kind of fun get-away for sometime in the next few months, but in the meantime, I will continue to enjoy normal, wonderful, everyday kind of days with Ben!

Pool Party

We had a pool party yesterday afternoon! Kaylia wears me out at the beach, and this was something different and special that we could do.

So, we filled up a little pool, splashed a lot, ate some snacks that Grandma had provided, and had fun.

It didn’t magically banish all whining and grumpy moments, but it sure helped, and I’m finding that having a plan and something to look forward to goes a long way…